Mop cleaning device



Dec. 27, 1932.

H. F; REYNOLDS MOP CLEANING DEVICE Filed Aug. 4. 1931 6 d M m. mw F mfi a F l m 4 m a 7 4 O O Q Ow 11' 8 E 4 0900 0 0000 7 E m 4 a v n 0M7 5 2 1% I A TTORNE Y Patented Dec. 27, 1932 UNITED STATES HARRY F. REYNOLDS, or SEATTLE, wasmaewo'a MOP CLEANING DEVICE Application filed August 4, 1931. Serial No. 555,038.

My invention relates to a mop or brush cleaning device. More particularly my invention relates to an enclosed casing wherein a mop may be first inserted and thereafter reciprocated to remove the dirt and dust from the mop, which dirt and dust is thereby completely removed without the annoyance and disturbance of loose dust and dirt being permitted to escape in the air about the clean- 0 ing device. 7 g The class of mops to which my device is especially suitable, are dry mops, used to pick up the particles of dust about the floor.

In this connection I wish it expressly understood that my invention is not limited in its use to mops of this particular character, but that this use is set forth only for clearness and because a great need exists for a prac- 9 tical and efficient cleaning device for this type of mop. i

The object of my invention is to provide means which will comb the dirt out of the mop, without the dirt adhering to the combing means. A further object of my device 1s to provide means whereby the shreds of the mop may be thoroughly and readily combed without any portion of the mop or the shreds thereof becoming entangled and catching in the combing means. A still further object of my invention is to provide means to be used in connection with combing means for the reception of the dirt and dust removed from the mop, so that such dirt and dust will not be deposited about the room as the mop is being cleaned. A still further object is to provide a neat, compact, practical and economical device which is rapid and etlicient in operation. 7

The above mentioned general objects of my invention, together with others inherent in the same, are attained by the device, illustrated in the following drawing, the same being preferred exemplary forms of embodifi ment of my invention, throughout which drawing like reference numerals indicate like parts:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the combing means removed from the container.

Figs. 2 and 3 are detached elevations of a guard and tooth, respectively drawn on a larger scale.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the bottomhalf of the enclosing receptacle, drawn on a reduced scale.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view with parts broken away, of the top-half of the enclosing receptacle, drawn on a reduced scale, an end door being shown open.

Fig. 6 is a sectional View, on a reduced scale, showing the combing means operatively positioned Within the enclosing receptacle and showing a dry mop'inserted within said receptacle.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view, partly in section and partly in elevation, substantially on line 77 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the flexible closing means for a slot on n the top of the receptacle.

Referring to the drawing, 7 indicates two edge frame members, and 7 the other two edge frame members, which members are suitably secured together as by riveting. Frame members 8 are secured to edge frame members 7 and extend crosswise therebetween, preferably, in spaced apart parallel relation to each other and members '7. U shaped guard members 9 are suitably secured and positioned betweenmembers 7 and 8 and likewise between the several members 8, and have their base portions 10 suitably secured to said frame members as by welding, and have their leg portions 11 and bridge portion 12 protruding upwardly. Teeth 13 are suitably positioned on frame members 8 and have the base portion l l thereof secured in frame members 8 by welding or other suitable means, and have tip portion 15 projecting upwardly. Holes 16 are provided so that combing means may be readily secured to the top half of the enclosing frame member shown in Fig. 5.

In the construction of my device it is essential that the bridge portion 12 of the guard members 9 extend beyond or above the tip portion 15 of the teeth 13. In the use ofmy device in connection with dry mops, I have determined by practice that this difference should be approximately one half inch to keep or hold the base portion 32 of the mop out of engagement with the teeth 13. The teeth in the center frame member 8 are more frequent than the teeth in the adjacent frame members 8, and from practice I have found that the ratio should be approximately two for one. By the use of more frequent teeth in the center frame thanin the adjacent frames, it is possible to obtain a thorough cleaning without tangling the threads of the mop. This more thorough cleaning is obtained because the less frequent teeth in the adjacent frames tend to straighten and untangle the shreds so that more frequent teeth in the center frame may be used than could otherwise be used as the shreds are in a straightened condition when they encounter the more frequent teeth in the center frame. The guard members are offset relative to each other and are positioned in planes parallel to the direction of movement of the mop as it is being cleaned, so that teeth are accessible to comb all theshreds of the mop.

The bottom half of the receptacle (shown in Fig. 4) is provided with ends 17, sides 18, and a bottom 19. .The top half of the receptacle (shown in Fig. 5) is formed of sides 23, ends 24 and top 25. Around the lower edges of sides 23 and ends 24:, is flange 26, which is adapted to seal and interlock the two halves of the receptacle together so that dust will not be released out of the receptacle. Both sides 23 are cut away and provided with depressions 21, for the insertion therein of the end members 7 which depressions are provided with grooves 22, which grooves are adapted to receive the ends of frame members 7 and 8. Such ends of frame members 7 and-S are thereafterinserted in the grooves 22 with the upper portion of the teeth and the upper portion 12 of the guards extending in an upward direction. The frame members are then preferably secured by screws which extend through holes 16 and into sides 23, attaching the said combing means inthis position. It is to be noted that the combing frame may well be secured to the bottom half of the receptacle, instead of the top half of the receptacle, without departing from the spirit of my invention. Connection of the combing frame with the top half of the receptacle is preferred because it permits a more easy removal ofthe dirt.

Top comprises two members 26 and 27, each being pivotally secured by hinges 28 to sides 23. 7

These members 26 and 27 do not entirely cover the top of the receptacle but leave a longitudinally extending slot between their inner edges when they are in closed position. overlapped strips 29 and 30 of flexible material, as rubber, are secured to the inner edges of the members 26 and ,27 and form a flexible closure for this slot. These overlapped strips are slitted crosswise to provide a plurality of overlapped flexible tabs which allow an object, as a mop handle 33 to be reciprocated within the slot but close in snugly around said mop handle and form a seal to prevent the escape of dust and dirt from the longitudinal slot.

To facilitate insertion of a mop to be cleaned, one end 24 of the top half of the receptacle is preferably cut away to provide an opening of suitable size and shape so that a mop and mop handle may be passed therethrough. A trap door 34:, secured by spring hinges 35, preferably to the flange 26', serves to close said opening and is normally held in closed position- A lever 36, preferably foot operated, is secured to trap door 34- whereby said door may readily and conveniently be opened to facilitate insertion and removal of a mop.

In the operation of my device, the combing member is first secured, as previously described, to the top half of the receptacle and then the top half of the receptacle is positioned on the bottom half thereof. The trap door 34 is then opened and the mop inserted into the receptacle. Then the mop is reciprocated, the handle 33 of such mop moving backward and forward in the longitudinal recess between members 26 and 27, the flexible rubber strips allowing free and easy movement of the mop handle and at the same time maintaining a dust seal. As the mop is reciprocated, it is to be noted that the loose ends 31 of the mop will be combed and the dirt therefrom removed by the action of the teeth 13 and the base 32 of the threads of the mop will ride on the guards 9 and will not thereby become entangledin the teeth.

The teeth 13, being in an upright position, I

and the combing frame being centrally positioned within the receptacle, the dirt will readily fall to the bottom of the receptacle and prevent the combing means from becoming covered with dirt.

Obviously, changes may be made in the forms, dimensions and arrangement of the parts of my invention, without departing from the principle thereof, the above setting forth only preferred forms of embodiment. I

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, a frame; spaced apart upwardly extending teeth connected to said frame; and an elevated trackway positioned above and adjacent the upper ends of said teeth, said elevated trackway comprising a plurality of inverted U shaped members connected to said frame in relatively staggered relation.

2. In a device of the class described, a frame; spaced apart upwardly extending teeth connected to said frame; and an elevated trackway positioned above and adjacent the upper ends of said teeth, said elevated trackway comprising a plurality of spaced apart relatively short inverted U shaped members connected to said frame in parallel staggered relation, whereby a track way composed of members ofl'set relative to each other is formed to support an article in different places throughout its travel over said trackway.

3. In a device of the class described, a frame having a plurality of parallel spaced apart members; upwardly extending teeth connected to intermediate frame members; and an elevated trackway positioned above said frame and above and adjacent the upper ends of said teeth, said elevated trackway comprising a plurality of inverted U shaped members connected at their lower and open ends to adjacent frame members.

4:. A device for cleaning articles of the class described, embodying a receptacle having a long narrow slot on the top thereof; flexible dust proof means closing said slot in the receptacle, said flexible means comprising a plurality of overlapping extending flexible tabs connected to each side of the receptacle adjacent the slot, the inner ends of said tabs meeting substantially midway between the sides of the slot in said receptacle; combing means positioned intermediate the top and bottom of said receptacle, said combing means embodying a frame, spaced apart upwardly extending teeth connected to said frame, and an elevated trackway positioned above said frame and adjacent and above the upper ends of said teeth.

5. In a device of the class described, a plurality of parallel spaced apart members; up; wardly extending teeth from an intermediate one of said parallel spaced apart 1nembers; other upwardly extending teeth from adjacent parallel spaced apart members, said last named teeth being spaced apart farther than said first named teeth, whereby a fine and course combing means are provided; and an elevated trackway positioned above and adjacent the upper ends of said teeth.

6. A closure for a cleaning device of the class described, embodying a receptacle having a long narrow slot on the top thereof; and flexible dust proof means closing said slot in the said receptacle, said flexible means comprising a plurality of overlapping extending flexible tabs connected to each side of the receptacle adjacent the slot, the inner ends of said tabs meeting substantially midway between the sides of the slot in the receptacle.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 30th day of July, 1931.

HARRY F. REYNOLDS. 

